Blood relationship of head family

Peasants were subject to various rules during the period of the Ryukyu kingdom, such as being forbidden to move in or out. In 1689, the establishment of the Keizuza (an administrative institution for recording births, deaths, and accomplishments across generations of one’s family) clarified the distinction between keimochi (samurai [samure]) and mukei (peasants), and established a class system in the kingdom. Relational ties known as [Munchu], which connect family members through the paternal bloodline, tied the class system to ancestral worship, serving to maintain unity within the clan.

[Munchu] is a clan that is connected by the same ancestors, mainly males, but not wives, sons-in-law, adopted children or adopted daughters. It is characterized by the following rules.
・There are records of clan affiliation such as family history (births, deaths, and accomplishments) and genealogical charts (family trees of direct lineage) (records are not required in rural areas).
・There are Munchu tombs.
・Participate in ancestral rituals conducted by the head family.
・Adopted children must be from the same family.